Professional Pressure Washing: Protecting Your Driveway and Walkways

Pressure washing is filed under curb appeal, which undersells it considerably. In Boca Raton the dark film that develops on concrete, pavers and walkways is a living growth of algae and mildew, and once it is damp it becomes genuinely slippery. For a household where anyone is unsteady on their feet, keeping walking surfaces clean is a fall-prevention measure.

The aesthetics are a pleasant side effect.

Why it grows here so relentlessly

Warmth, humidity, frequent rain and shade give algae everything it needs. Anywhere that stays damp longest goes first: the north side of the house, under trees, beside irrigation heads and along the shaded edge of a driveway. It creeps in from the edges, which is why homeowners rarely notice until the middle of the driveway is the only clean part left.

Pressure is not the point

The name is misleading. A great deal of professional exterior cleaning is done at low pressure with an appropriate cleaning solution, letting the chemistry kill the growth rather than blasting it off. This is called soft washing, and for many surfaces it is both safer and more effective.

It also lasts longer. High pressure removes the visible growth and leaves the biological material in the pores, so it returns quickly. A proper cleaning solution kills it, which buys considerably more time before it comes back.

What high pressure damages

This is where do-it-yourself attempts go wrong, and the damage is often permanent:

• Paver joint sand blasts out easily, leaving pavers loose and inviting weeds and settlement
• Older or softer concrete can be etched, and the wand marks never come out
• Wood raises and furs almost immediately
• Screens and mesh are destroyed by a pressure tip
• Roof tiles should never be high-pressure washed; it damages the surface and can drive water where it does not belong
• Water forced upward under siding, trim or window frames gets behind the envelope, which is how a cleaning job becomes a moisture problem

The other consideration is the equipment itself. A pressure washer wand produces enough force to cause a serious injury, and it is being operated on a wet surface, frequently from a ladder. That combination is a poor idea for anyone whose balance is not what it was.

Sealing, once it is clean

Concrete and pavers are porous, which is why they stain and why growth takes hold in the surface. Sealing after a proper cleaning slows both, and on pavers it stabilizes the joint sand at the same time. It has to go onto a genuinely clean and completely dry surface, or you seal the staining underneath it.

How often

In this climate, most Palm Beach County homes want walking surfaces done annually, and the shaded areas may need attention sooner. If your community carries out exterior inspections, staying ahead of it also keeps you clear of the most common violation notice there is.